THE LICENSING BILL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 183, 12 November 1910, Page 5

THE LICENSING BILL

FURTHER ALTERATIONS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, November 11. After midnight an amendment proposed by Sir Joseph Ward, making the majority in the case of national prohibition three-fifths instead of 55 per cent., was carried on the voices after the amendment proposed by Mr. T. E. Taylor for a bare majority had been rejected by 50 to 25. Clause 24, relating to the restoration vote, was similarly amended. Wellington, Last Night. The Licensing Bill was again debated in committee in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. At clause 34, sub-section 1, forbidding the use of premises as a place of resort for consumption of liquor, was amended, on the motion of Sir Joseph Ward, by making the clause apply only to nolicense districts. Mr. Jennings moved to add a new clause, providing that clause 27 of the Bill (which provides for licensing polls being taken periodically after determination to restore licenses) shall only apply unt,il the electors residing in Rohepotae shall have declared themselves in favor of licenses being granted in that district; and sub-clauses providing for a poll being taken on the question of whether or not licenses shall be granted, a three-fifth majority to decide the issue. Messrs. Taylor (Cliristchurch) and Poole opposed the clause, as it would interfere with the compact entered into ■ by Maoris and Europeans that the King Country should be kept clear of the liquor traffic. Sir Joseph Ward said it was not right, in view of the large native population in the King Country, that the Bill should apply to that district at the present time. On a division, the clause was rejected by 53 to 13, and the House rose at 5.30. The debate was resumed at the evening session. Dr. T. S. Rangihiora moved to add a new clause providing that the Governor may, from time to time, on the recommendation of the Maori Council of any district under the Maori Councils Act, 1900, proclaim such district as a district in which a poll may be taken to decide whether liquor shall be supplied to natives in that district. The clause was agreed to on the voices. On the motion of the Premier, a proviso was added to clause 42 (providing that brewers' depots shall not be established within five miles of a No-lieensai district)", exempting ordinary bottling warehouses established-prior 4o the carrying of No-License, from the operation of the clause. .; A number Of inconsequential ampntfT ments were made in the containing the issues on which polls are to be taken, and the Bill was reported with amendments. In the House, Sir Joseph Ward moved that the amendments to the Licensing Bill, made in committee, be agreed to. A motion for adjournment Was defeated by 44 to 26. On the motion for the third reading, Mr. Malcolm condemned the Bill as amended, saying that the Licensing party had gained nothing by its conciliatory methods. The Bill would be disappointing to a great many people who had hoped for a substantial measure of reform. Mr. Poole said Mr. Malcolm's speech was a depressing one to the advocateb of temperance reform. The Bill was nothin" to crow over, but he intended to make the best of it. The Bill had many redeeming features. The issues on national and local prohibition were clearly put, and the people would be in no doubt as to what they were voting for. Mr. E. H., Tay'or believed the Government had done" the best it could under the circumstances, and though he was disappointed that the three-fifths majority had been retained, he believed the sentiment in favor of national prohibition was sufficient to carry it on the three-fifths majority.

NO-LICENSE VIEWS.

Dunedin, Last Night.

Interviewed by a Star reporter, Mr. G. B. Nicholls, provincial organiser of the No-License party, who assisted the cause in the recent Sydney campaign, said that to his mind the acceptance of the retention of the three-fifths majority as the price of the separation of ballot papers, as had evidently been done, was entirely a loss to the No-License cause. He recognised, however, that this was largely a matter of speculation, and •■ even the party itself was divided on the point. Prohibition of young men un- , -* der 21 years was undoubtedly a, step in the No-License direction, and the abolition of bottle licenses was a matter of great importance to Dunedin. Personally, he was glad also of the deletion of the reduction vote. It was never popular, and had been growing 'less popular at every poll. The placing of the Dominion vote on the Statute Book was a sreat advance. The No-License party would be forced now by the exigencieh of the position to make an effort to completely educate the people on the utter uselessness of alcoholic liquors. :< New Zealand is undoubtedly the most favorably situated country in the world," he said{ "to try the experiment of absolute Dominion prohibition, if carried, and if made a success of it would mean much to the Empire." There was nothing impossible in obtaining the necessary three-fifths majority for Dominion prohibition in New Zealand, and Mr. Nicholls anticipated the Party entering ; on the fight with good heart. "It i* certain, however, that we shall not be content to rest on the present basis; and it may almost be taken for granted that a bare majority on local and Dominion polls will be a keen issue in the next political fight," he concluded.